By: Dr. Richard DeFalco, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CWcHP, Cert. DN
Professional Rehabilitation Services Physical Therapy

With the start of basketball season upon us it is a good time to provide some insight on ankle sprains and strategies to offset them. Most basketball injuries occur in the legs, and even more so in the foot and ankle. This is in part due to the constant starting/stopping motions, acceleration and deceleration of the body, moving in multiple planes, and moving within traffic “in the paint.”

Most ankle sprains are lateral ankle sprains, meaning they occur on the outside aspect of the ankle, and occur as a result of “rolling on the ankle” or “turning the foot in.” They are identified based on their severity by grading. Grade I (mild), grade II (moderate), and grade III (severe). A more severe sprain correlates with an increased number of ligaments involved as well as more profound tearing of these ligaments. As a good rule of thumb, if you sustain any degree of ankle sprain, immediately rest, ice, compress, and elevate for the first 2-3 days and then seek proper medical attention.

Though more importantly is what to do after you’re healed or even better as a means of prevention. Reoccurrence rates of ankle sprains have been reported as high as 50%. This is because there is delayed muscle activation as well as impaired proprioception (the ability for you to determine subtle positional changes in the foot and ankle) after sustaining an ankle sprain. This leads to functional ankle instability and a repeated history of insecurity and giving way of the ankle.

There are strategies to be implemented to offset and rehabilitate ankle injuries. They include strengthening of the entire foot and ankle, with an emphasis on the muscles that run along the outer aspect of the lower leg and ankle. Proprioceptive training utilizing different balancing strategies that emphasize both preparing to move and reacting to move. There is also a substantial amount of research, primarily in athletes, that demonstrates that strengthening of specific hip muscles has been proven to decrease the reoccurrence of ankle sprains. If you or anyone you know suffers from chronic ankle sprains or instability, use the following exercise strategies as a stepping stone to offset future injuries. Visit www.prsrehabservices.com for the full article and illustrations of corrective exercises for lateral ankle sprains.